Circuit-closer for burglar-alarms



A; ISKE.

QIRGUIT CLOSER FOR BUBGLARALARMS.

No. 304,732. Patented Sept. 9, 1884.

min lhll iillIilI v WITNESSES I UNITED STATES ALBERT ISKE, OF LANCASTER,PENNSYLVANIA.

CIRCUIT-CLOSER FOR BURGLAR-ALARMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 304,732,1datedSeptember 9, 1884.

Application filed December 14, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern .Be it known that I, ALBERT ISKE, a citizenof the United States, residing at Lancaster, in the county of Lancasterand State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Circuit-Closers for Burglar- Alarms; and I doherebydeclare the follow ing to be a full, clear, and exact descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference markedthereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to devices for opening and closing the circuitsof electric burglaralarms when a window-sash is raised or lowered or adoor turned on its hinges.

The said invention consists, partly, in the combination of a plateforming part of an electric circuit with acircuit-closing spring, whichalso forms'part of the electric circuit, and tends to come in contactdirectly with said plate, and a device attached to a window-sash orother means of ingress, which device normally holds said spring awayfrom said plate, the moving of said window or other means of ingressfreeing said spring from said device and allowing the circuit to beclosed by the action of said spring.

It also consists in a circuit-closing spring, in combination with aplate forming part of an electric circuit, a lug or projection on theframe of the upper sash of a window, and a movable plate or platesinterposed between said lug and said spring, and operating with said lugto hold said spring out of contact with the plate first above mentionedwhile the window remains closed.

It also consists in a circuitclosing spring, in combination with apivoted triangular or threearmed plate forming part of an electricciredit, and a plate or plates which prevent said spring from closingthe circuit until the means of ingress are opened.

It also consists in an adj ustable pair of plate attached to awindow-sash, in combination with an incline-faced lug on the other sash,and a circuit-closing device held open by said lug and plates until onesash or the other is moved, as stated.

It also consists in an adj ustablc plate secured being recessed, so thatwhen said plate is turned to an intermediate position the alarm will notoperate.

It further consists in the combination, with a wedgefaced lug attachedto the upper sash of a window, of a circuit-closing spring at-' tachedto the window-frame, and two interposed plates pivoted together on thetop of the lower sash, said plates being provided with slots and a stopfor limiting their motion on their pivot, and with connection by slotand screw for regulating their combined width.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents a perspective View ofa window and window-frame, and the devices attached thereto, embodyingthe said invention. Fig. 2 represents a detail view of thecircuit-closing spring. Fig. 3 represents a similar view of wedge-facedlug attached to the upper sash. Fig. 4 represents a similar view of thetwo plates pivoted on the top of the lower sash, and Fig. 5 represents asingle plate which may be substituted for the two pivoted plates abovementioned.

A designates the frame of a window, 13 the lower sash-frame, and O theupper sash-frame.

To the aforesaid window-frame A, opposite the meeting-rails of saidsash-frames, and extendingconsiderably above them, is secured a bar orrail, D, by means of screws (Z or other readilydetachable fastenings.This bar or rail serves as a support for the circuit-closing devices.011 the front of this bar or rail are two plates, E 4 Through each ofthese plates is passed a screw, 0, which is provided with a washer, 6.One of these screws and its washer clamp the end of a wire, F, to theupper plate, E, while the other screw 0 and washer c clamp the end ofanother wire, F, in like manner to lower plate, E. These wires F F arethe circuit-wires of a burglar-alarm, suitable devices for generatingelectricity and for creating an alarm being of course included in thecircuit. These are not shown, as they do not form part of my presentinvention, the latter not being confined to any particular kind ofgenerator or signaling mechanism. The npperplated l, has a pin or rivet,g, attached to it, which extends through bar I), and is connected on theother side thereof to a button, 9, or other suitable device, to whichone end of a long spring, G, is attached. This spring extends down tothe lower end of said bar, inclining gradually inward as it descends,and then bends forward through a guideslot, d, in the lower end of saidbar, and upward in front of the same, forming a terminal hook, G. Thelower plate, It, has a triangular or threearmed plate, Ilf, pivoted toit by one of the three arms of said plate. Either one of the other armswill serve as a handle, and the position of the third arm. should bealmost vertically under the pivotal point of said plate. \Vhen thusplaced, the said third arm, as shown in Fig. 1, is behind the tip ofhook G, and the operation of spring (1- is to bring this hook intocontact with this lower or third arm of the pivoted plate H, therebyclosing the circuit. Under ordinary circumstances, however, thiscircuit-closing action of said spring is prevented by the followingdevices: On the top of the lower sash two plates, 1 J, are pivoted at i,the one on top of the other. These have corresponding curvilinear slots1 J, one in each, and the upper plate, I, has in addition a slot, 1 ofsimilar curvature, through which an adjusting-screw is passed down intothe lower plate, J. This allows said plates to be spread apart to agreater or less extent by moving either one of them or both of them onpivot t, loosening said screw, of course, to allowsnch ar'ljustment, andclamping the plates by said screw again when said adjustment iseil'ected. One edge of one of said plates bears against the lower partof spring (i aforesaid, and the other edge of the other one of saidplates is in contact with the face of a wedgei'orm lug, K, whichthickens as it extends downward. Thus when the window is closed at topand bottom, as shown in Fig. 1, the inelined lug block or projection Kforces the plates I J (they having been duly adjusted with regard towidth) against spring G, so as to overcome its resistance and move itsend G" away from plate l-I, thus breaking the circuit, and holding itbroken until the lower sash is raised or the upper onclowered; As soonthe press urc on the sprin has been relieved thereby, the said springautomatically closes the circuit and sounds an alarm. The adj ustabilityof plates I J as to their combined width enables me to compensate forany weakening of spring G, to adapt the devices to saslrframes ofdiiterent thickness, and,when desired, to ho] d the spring G- out ofcontact with the plate H until the lower sash has been raised somelittle distance, thus making it possible to throw in letters,

newspapers, or parcels without sounding the burglar-alarm. A screw, 1,extends down through slots 1 J into the top of sash G, and

acts. as a stop to limit the motion of plates I J. armed shape of plateH adapts it to be used on the window frame at either side of a window.It is recessed between the arms, and when turned so that the lowerrecess, 7:, is directly under the pivot, the hook 1- of spring G willset into this recess it without touching plate II, and the circuit willremain broken even after said spring is left free to operate. Thisafl'ords a very convenient means of n1aking the alarm temporarilyinoperative when desired.

All the foregoing devices may be :asily attached to any window andwindow-frame and detached therefrom. I do not confine myself to theprecise shape, construction, and arrangement shown, as these mayobviously be modified in divers ways, though I prefer them asherciubeforc set forth.

\Vhen the upper sash is immovable, I have no need for two plates, I J,on the lower sash, but may use instead the single plate M, (shown inFig. 5,) the same having on one (the outer) edge a flange or bead, m,which bears against the spring. This plate may be fastened to said sashby screws passing through holes in; but a slot, m, (shown in dottedlines,) is a desirable substitute for said holes, inasmuch it allows theadjustment of said plate.

These devices may, of course, be applied to a door, skylight, or anyother means of ingress, instead of applying them to a window, as described.

Having thus described my in\'ention,whatI claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of" a plate forming part of an electric circuit witha circuit-closing spring which also forms part of the electric circuit,andtends to come in contact directly with said plate, and a deviceattached to a window-sash or other means of ingress, which devicenormally holds said spring away from said plate, the moving of saidwindow or other means of ingress freeing said spring from said device,and allowing the circuit to be closed by the action of said spring,substantially as set forth.

2. A circuit-closing spring, in combination with a plate forming part ofan electric cir cuit, a lug or projection on the frame of the upper sashof a window, and a movable plate or plates interposed between said lugand said spring, and operating with said lug to hold said spring out ofcontact with the plate first above mentioned, while the window remainsclosed.

3. A circuit-closing spring, in combination with a pivoted triangular orthree'armed plate forming part of an electric circuit, and a plate orplates which prevent said spring from cl osing the circuit until themeans of ingress is opened.

The triangular or (more exactly) three 4. An adjustable pair of platesattached to a window-sash, in combination with an incline-faced lug onthe other sash, and a circuit-closing device held open-by said. lug andplates until one sash or the other is moved, as stated.

5. An adjustable plate secured to the top of a window-sash, incombination with a circuitclosing spring, and contact-plate forming partof an electrical circuit, said adjustable plate holding said spring outof contact with said contact-plate until the lower sash is raised.

6. In combination with the circuit-closing spring of a burglaralarm, athreearm contactplate pivoted at one arm, and adapted to turn so thateither one of the other arms may be in position for contact with saidspring, the space between said lower arms being recessed, so

that when said plate is turned to an intermediate position the alarmwill not operate.

7. In combination with a wedge-faced lug attached to the upper sash of awindow, a circuit-closing spring attached to the windowframe, and twointerposed plates pivoted together on the top of the lower sash, saidplates being provided with slots, and a stop for limiting their motionon their pivot, and with connection by slot and screw for regulatingtheir combined width, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, ALBERT ISKE. Witnesses:

1?. DONNELLY, ZURIEL Sworn.

